Emerald is regarded as the traditional birthstone for May as well as the traditional gemstone for the astrological sign of Taurus.
One of the quainter anecdotes about emeralds was told by the 16th-century historian Brantôme, who referred to the many impressive emeralds the Spanish under Cortez had brought back to Europe from Latin America. On one of Cortez’s most notable emeralds he had the text engraved, Inter Natos Mulierum non sur-rexit mayor (“Among those born of woman there hath not arisen a greater,” Matthew 11:11) which referred to John the Baptist. Brantôme considered engraving such a beautiful and simple product of nature sacrilegious and considered this act the cause for Cortez’s loss of an extremely precious pearl (to which he dedicated a work, A beautiful and incomparable pearl), and even for the death of King Charles IX of France, who died soon afterward. Reference: Wikipedia
Rectangular, chamfered emerald, engraved with a Persian verse on the front and step-cut at the back. The emerald is in a gold setting of chased goldwith six cobra heads, three at each side of the emerald. Their bodies form the hoop of the ring
The seal in this Indian ring is made of an emerald of high quality which probably came from Colombia. It is inscribed (in reverse calligraphy) with a Persian verse from the Golestan, or Rose Garden, of the Iranian poet Sa’di, and translates “O Nightingale bring us the tidings of Spring”. It is therefore obviously linked with the Iranian Nowruz, or New Year, which takes place on the first day of Spring. It may have been a seal used for marking a Nowruz gift, or have been a gift made to mark an important event such as a birth which took place at Nowruz. It is set in a gold collet held in a ring made of six cobras whose bodies enclose the emerald, and form the hoop of the ring, and thus intriguingly combines a style familiar from South Indian traditions with the emerald seal which seems to be Iranian. Both are probably 18th century in date. The ring was formerly in the Indian Museum and was transferred to the South Kensington Museum, later renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum, in 1879.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
An emerald and diamond ‘Zodiac’ ring, by Elizabeth Gage, 1975 The tapering 18 carat bicoloured gold band with a central octagonal step-cut emerald, collet-set within a brushed recess decorated with polished beads and motifs for the Pisces star sign including fish and tridents, with brilliant-cut diamond accents, between polished and ropetwist borders, signed Gage, London hallmark, ring size T
Sold for £ 3,750 inc. premium at Bonham’s in
Gold, Enamel and Cabochon Emerald Bull’s Head Ring, David Webb 18 kt., the bull’s head accented by 2 round cabochon emerald eyes, topped by a textured gold mane, its nose, body and tail applied with black enamel, enhanced by slender gold bands, signed Webb for David Webb, approximately 14.3 dwt. Size 6 1/2.
Sold for $2,500 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2009
An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Emerald Taurus Pendant/Brooch, David Webb, containing 31 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.15 carats total and one round cabochon cut emerald measuring approximately 2.70 mm in diameter. Stamp: WEBB 18K PLAT. 36.70 dwts.
Sold for $4,400 at Hindman in 2019
